Portrait of Florence Seymour n.d.

Elizabeth Murray made this watercolor and graphite portrait of Florence Seymour in the 19th century. It appears to be unfinished. In its time, portraiture served as an important marker of social status, and this work offers an interesting glimpse into the world of Victorian childhood. Made in Britain, this artwork reflects the Victorian era's fascination with childhood innocence. Murray, herself a portraitist to the aristocracy, presents Florence with delicate features and an elegant hat, hinting at the privileged upbringing of the sitter. The incomplete nature of the drawing, with only the head and shoulders rendered in color, suggests that it was possibly made in the home rather than a professional institution. The existence of works like this in museum collections today is largely due to the work of historians, who piece together the social context of the era through documents and other research materials. It is through this painstaking work of research that the art of the past is given meaning for the present.